Game On

Is Game of Thrones Doubling Down on the Best Part of Season 6?

News spread like wildfire across the Internet this week that popular Game of Thrones actress Bella Ramsey would be returning as Lyanna Mormont for Season 7. The actress was photographed in costume, though obsessive Game of Thrones fans were already on high alert for her after Tormund himself (Kristofer Hivju) posted a cute photo with Ramsey a few weeks ago.

These two didn’t get to interact too much last season—but here’s hoping they get to exchange a few salty words this year. And, really, did we expect Game of Thrones not to bring back a popular character like Lyanna? They’re going to milk this sassy little noblewoman for all she’s worth until—well—you know what happens to your favorites on this show.

But the good news is that Lyanna Mormont may not be the only young Northern lady we see stalking the halls of Winterfell in Season 7. Game of Thrones may face a bit of a challenge next year with the Northern plot. With the threat of Ramsay Bolton eliminated, the big Season 7 battle reportedly moved to the South for the first time since Season 2, and the onslaught of the Night’s King likely reserved for Season 8, what drama will there be to keep the Stark story line as entertaining as a clash between the Lannisters and Targaryen forces?

There’s the promise of Littlefinger-fueled infighting between Jon and Sansa, of course—and Bran and Meera are on a collision course with the Wall that could prove disastrous. But trust Game of Thrones to have some extra drama up its well-embroidered sleeve. Speculation with a dash of spoilers to follow.

Actress Megan Parkinson has been photographed on set in Northern costume and, out of costume, giving Kit Harington a friendly hug.

At first, eager Game of Thrones sleuths pegged Parkinson as a body double for Sansa; the red hair does evoke Sophie Turner. But then they noticed that she was being fitted with a sword belt. For all of Sansa’s military prowess (if you want to call it that) last season, she is not a sword girl. And, anyway, the dress is a bit plain for the fashionable Stark girl.

It’s more likely that Parkinson is playing the role that was described in a Season 7 casting call as “a 16-year-old Northern girl. They’re looking for an actress with a northern accent to take part in what’s being called ‘a high-stakes scene with leading cast members.’ Her physical description isn’t specified, except for her needing to be white.” Game of Thrones fansite Watchers on the Wall speculates that Parkinson might playing the show version of Alys Karstark, a Book 6 character who begged help from Jon Snow. She also happens to be the daughter of Rickard Karstark, whom Robb Stark executed back in Season 2.

In the books, the teenaged Alys flees her family home to avoid an arranged marriage with her cousin. (That’s more gumption than young Sansa showed.) Her marriage is part of a thorny Northern political plot that involved Stannis Baratheon. We are well past Stannis on the show, but the HBO version of Jon still may face some challenges when it comes to unifying the North. A political marriage or two has always been a way to cement allies in the world of Thrones and, in the books, Jon winds up marrying Alys off to a wildling in order to create a new Northern house. “So, I am now a woman wed,” she says in A Dance with Dragons. “A wildling husband with his own little wildling army.” Do we know of any wildling bachelors kicking around Winterfell?

I know, Brienne and Tormund fans would be crushed. But this is politics! Sacrifices must be made!

There’s another, even higher-stakes option for the potential (hypothetical) wedding of this Northern girl: she could marry Jon Snow himself. I know a lot of Game of Thrones fans are hoping that Jon remains a Ygritte-mourning bachelor until Daenerys shows up in the North to sweep him off his feet. And that might still happen! But it would be interesting to see a repeated version of the Robb Stark plot line. Robb’s refusal to marry for politics proved his family’s doom. Would Jon make a better choice? If Sansa and Littlefinger are working against him and undermining the legitimacy of his claim to Winterfell, a marriage to a strong Northern house like the Karstarks or (since Tim McInnerny is coming back, and was photographed in makeup at the same time as Parkinson) the Glovers would be a smart move for Jon. You remember Lord Glover from last year, right? He’s not really a Sansa fan.

All of this is pretty wild speculation, but according to set photos, we do know that the Northern intrigue will involve Sansa, Jon, Littlefinger, Brienne, Pod, Davos, Tormund, this new sassy Northern lady who carries a sword, and, possibly, her little brother.

If there are political marriages in the offing, the wedding of this girl to Jon is far more preferable to the fan theory that Jon will marry his sister/cousin Sansa. If it’s a redhead bride you want for Jon Snow, this option seems a lot more palatable and, at the very least, we have another fiery Northern lady to look forward to.

From Victims to Victors: The Women of ​Game of Thrones​’ Style Transformations

Sansa Stark—Sophie Turner

When we first met Sansa in Season 1, the talented little seamstress was dead-set on dressing like the Southern ladies of Westeros. But after several transformations—including her dramatic dark look at the Eyrie—Sansa has reconnected with her Northern roots. Dressing more like her mother, Catelyn, last season and wearing her handmade direwolf dress with pride this year, Sansa is neither Lady Bolton nor Lady Lannister. She’s pure Stark.

Photo: Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Margaery Tyrell—Natalie Dormer

When Margaery first arrived on the scene in King’s Landing, she was famous for plunging gowns with copious cutouts that betrayed her upbringing in Highgarden—one of the sunniest places in Westeros. She then adopted some slightly more regal attire, including a pair of stunning wedding dresses, when she married first Joffrey and then his brother, Tommen. But, sadly, Margaery did not go out in a blaze of fashion-forward glory. Still wearing demure threads meant to impress the High Sparrow, Margaery died in a turtlenecked gown. The indignity!

Photo: Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Daenerys Targaryen—Emilia Clark

The first time we meet Daenerys in Season 1, she’s being forced to wear a floaty purple dress her brother Viserys picked out in order to sell her to Khal Drogo. We’ve seen the character go through a number of transitions since, from the green and brown leathers of the Dothraki to her Breaker-of-Chains-in-Blue period. Now the Dragon Queen is back in blue for her sea voyage to Westeros, this time with a regal caped dress—as if to announce her intention to immediately ascend the Iron Throne.

Photo: Courtesy of HBO.

Cersei Lannister—Lena Headey

Some seriously questionable Season 1 hair decisions aside, Cersei Lannister’s look was pretty consistent over the first five years of Game of Thrones: flowing blond curls, red and gold robes, and a sneer that would put ice in your veins. But in Season 6, rocking a dramatic new pixie cut thanks to the Sparrows, Cersei adopted a more severe, masculine look. Opting for darker colors, including a dramatic black gown for her coronation, Cersei, like Sansa and Jon, took on her own father’s look. And we all know how things turned out for him.

Photo: Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Arya Stark—Maisie Williams

The little tomboy was never one for dresses or keeping herself clean—but after wearing the same grungy brown outfit for several seasons, actress Maisie Williams was relieved to have a change. When she hit Braavos in Season 5, Williams asked designer Michele Clapton if she could burn her old costume. Now that she can swap faces, Arya may be wearing many new looks in the seasons to come as she disguises herself during her Westerosi murder spree.

Photo: Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Brienne of Tarth—Gwendoline Christie

The lady warrior isn’t too fond of changing up her look, but we shouldn’t forget that she got a major upgrade to her armor between Seasons 2 and 6. A gift from her traveling companion, Jaime Lannister, her shiny new suit of armor is the ultimate symbol of his regard. “The best way to do that is to give her something he would like,” Clapton said. “Jaime isn't a particularly creative person, so the armor is quite functional.” The armor and sword, with its Lannister associations, keep getting Brienne into trouble—but how could she ever ditch such a thoughtful gift?

Photo: Both from Photofest.

Missandei—Nathalie Emmanuel

Daenerys first met Missandei back in Astapor, where long, flowing robes and a slave-esque collar seemed to be her wardrobe of choice. But after years working with Daenerys, Missandei has ditched the color and the robes in exchange for a hardcore leather top and pleated skirt combination. (In one strange fashion misstep this season, the translator appeared to be wearing flared plaid pants. We’ll blame the Meereenese heat for that decision.) Missandei is quite fond of a bare midriff (we would be too, with those abs) and even wore her revealing leather ensemble on the open water.

Photo: Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Sansa Stark—Sophie Turner

When we first met Sansa in Season 1, the talented little seamstress was dead-set on dressing like the Southern ladies of Westeros. But after several transformations—including her dramatic dark look at the Eyrie—Sansa has reconnected with her Northern roots. Dressing more like her mother, Catelyn, last season and wearing her handmade direwolf dress with pride this year, Sansa is neither Lady Bolton nor Lady Lannister. She’s pure Stark.

Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Margaery Tyrell—Natalie Dormer

When Margaery first arrived on the scene in King’s Landing, she was famous for plunging gowns with copious cutouts that betrayed her upbringing in Highgarden—one of the sunniest places in Westeros. She then adopted some slightly more regal attire, including a pair of stunning wedding dresses, when she married first Joffrey and then his brother, Tommen. But, sadly, Margaery did not go out in a blaze of fashion-forward glory. Still wearing demure threads meant to impress the High Sparrow, Margaery died in a turtlenecked gown. The indignity!

Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Daenerys Targaryen—Emilia Clark

The first time we meet Daenerys in Season 1, she’s being forced to wear a floaty purple dress her brother Viserys picked out in order to sell her to Khal Drogo. We’ve seen the character go through a number of transitions since, from the green and brown leathers of the Dothraki to her Breaker-of-Chains-in-Blue period. Now the Dragon Queen is back in blue for her sea voyage to Westeros, this time with a regal caped dress—as if to announce her intention to immediately ascend the Iron Throne.

Courtesy of HBO.

Cersei Lannister—Lena Headey

Some seriously questionable Season 1 hair decisions aside, Cersei Lannister’s look was pretty consistent over the first five years of Game of Thrones: flowing blond curls, red and gold robes, and a sneer that would put ice in your veins. But in Season 6, rocking a dramatic new pixie cut thanks to the Sparrows, Cersei adopted a more severe, masculine look. Opting for darker colors, including a dramatic black gown for her coronation, Cersei, like Sansa and Jon, took on her own father’s look. And we all know how things turned out for him.

Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Arya Stark—Maisie Williams

The little tomboy was never one for dresses or keeping herself clean—but after wearing the same grungy brown outfit for several seasons, actress Maisie Williams was relieved to have a change. When she hit Braavos in Season 5, Williams asked designer Michele Clapton if she could burn her old costume. Now that she can swap faces, Arya may be wearing many new looks in the seasons to come as she disguises herself during her Westerosi murder spree.

Left, from Photofest; right, Courtesy of HBO.

Brienne of Tarth—Gwendoline Christie

The lady warrior isn’t too fond of changing up her look, but we shouldn’t forget that she got a major upgrade to her armor between Seasons 2 and 6. A gift from her traveling companion, Jaime Lannister, her shiny new suit of armor is the ultimate symbol of his regard. “The best way to do that is to give her something he would like,” Clapton said. “Jaime isn't a particularly creative person, so the armor is quite functional.” The armor and sword, with its Lannister associations, keep getting Brienne into trouble—but how could she ever ditch such a thoughtful gift?

Both from Photofest.

Missandei—Nathalie Emmanuel

Daenerys first met Missandei back in Astapor, where long, flowing robes and a slave-esque collar seemed to be her wardrobe of choice. But after years working with Daenerys, Missandei has ditched the color and the robes in exchange for a hardcore leather top and pleated skirt combination. (In one strange fashion misstep this season, the translator appeared to be wearing flared plaid pants. We’ll blame the Meereenese heat for that decision.) Missandei is quite fond of a bare midriff (we would be too, with those abs) and even wore her revealing leather ensemble on the open water.